The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released the top 100 baby names for England and Wales in 2025, revealing a stark contrast to the most popular names of the 1960s. Olivia tops the girls' list for the tenth consecutive year, while Muhammad, Noah, and Leo are the top three for boys. Among girls, Lily has overtaken Amelia for second place, with Olivia, Lily, and Amelia now the top three.
Regional Variations and Birth Statistics
Olivia was the most popular name in three of nine English regions and in Wales. Muhammad was the most popular in four of nine English regions but ranked 34th in Wales. In 2025, there were 585,396 live births in England and Wales: 284,681 female and 300,715 male.
New Entries to the Top 100
New additions to the top 100 names for girls include Eliana, Gracie, Anaya, Alba, Marnie, Lilah, and Frankie. For boys, new entries are Vincent, Carter, Stanley, and Ruben.
Comparison with 1960s Names
In 1960, the most popular girls' names were Mary, Susan, and Linda, while boys were led by David, Michael, and James. Other top 10 names included Karen, Donna, Lisa, Patricia for girls, and James, John, Robert, Mark, William for boys. By 2025, James has fallen to rank 42, William to 25, while Mark, John, and Robert are no longer in the top 100. Mary has dropped out of the top 100 entirely, though Maryam appears at rank 52. Karen, Donna, Lisa, and Patricia are also absent from the current top 100.
Biggest Rises and Falls
Girls' names with the biggest increases in rank over the past year include Ada (up 54 places), Maeve (up 24), and Charlotte (up 24). For boys, Roman rose 33 places, Harry 26, and Finley 25. The largest drops were Jessica (down 44 places), Ellie (down 31), and Amelia (down 22).
Popularity Statistics
In 2025, 2,386 babies were named Olivia, and 5,957 boys were named Muhammad, representing 1.4% of all births. The top 10 names accounted for 9.1% of all births. The ONS compiles rankings based on the exact spelling of the name at birth registration; different spellings are counted separately.
